Combined bench and stand



(No Model.)

J. W. WALTERS.

COMBINED BENCH AND STAND. No. 308,538. Patented Nov. 25, 1884.

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JULIUS W'M. \VALTERS, OF PORT RICHMOND, NEWV YORK.

COMBINED BENCH AND STAND.

SPECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,538, dated November 25, 1884.

Application filed November 121883. (No model.) i

To all whom it may conccrit:

Be it known that I, J ULIUs \V. VVALTERS, of Port Richmond, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Bench and Stand; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this speoification.

My invention relates to an improved folding-bench, and has for its object the provision of a neat substantial bench, which, when not in use as a bench, may be folded to occupy less room and to serve as a table or rack.

It consists in dividing an ordinary bench across its middle portion, joining the two parts thus formed together by hinges and se curing to the two adjacent hinged edges two parallel central supports for the bench adapted to serve, when the bench is folded and tilted up on 'end, as the top or leaves of a table.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved folding bench, and Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the same folded and set up to serve as a table.

A represents the top of a bench, preferably made of open slat-work, and which is fitted at each end, in the customary manner, with legs or supports B B, of any desired form. This benchtop A is divided across its middle to form two parts, a a, hinged together with suitable hinges, C O, and each of which is fitted, in addition to its outer support or leg B, with an inner support, D, fitted close along the edge of its hinged end to extend therefrom at right angle therewith, so that'the two inner supports, D D, are thus brought face to face in contact when the bench is opened out, as shown in Fig. 1.

My improved folding bench consists, there fore, virtually of two complete benches brought together end to end and joined by means of suitable hinges, G O, the top of one to the top of the other, to form, when extend ed, a single bench, but which may be folded together top to top to occupy onehalf the space in length.

The legs B B at the outer or extreme ends of the bench may be inclined to or set at right angles with the top, but their lower extremities must terminate in planes at right angles to the extreme ends of the top. The central legs or supports D D, when combined with a In use, when the bench is opened out, its

legs or supports B B, D D all terminate in a common plane parallel with the top of the bench and forms therefor an even support of great stability.

\Vhen not in use as a bench, the two hinged divisions a a may be folded together, the one over upon the other, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) and by setting the folded bench up on end to bring the central supports, D D, uppermost,a table or stand is provided of convenient height, the two supports D D serving as its leaves, and the two divisions a a of the top now folded together forming the central standard or support for the table having as its wide base the outer legs or supports, B B, as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

I claim as my invention The combination, in a folding bench, with a centrally-divided top, whose two divisions, A A, are hinged together end to end to fold one upon the other, and are fitted with suitable end supports, BB, of two equal parallel leaves, D D, fitted to project at a right angle with said top each from the inner hinged edge of one of its divisions, to serve as a central support for the bench when it is extended and to open out into a common right plane when it is folded, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS IVM. WALTERS.

Witnesses:

G. H. SPENCER, A. W. STEIGER. 

